Native Plants Promote

Better Ground

Native plants are species that originated or evolved in the soils, topography, and climate of western Washington, rather than being introduced to the landscape by humans. 

Native plants have many advantages, including better immune systems to fend off pests and disease, and adaptability to our wet winters and dry summers. Native plants need less water than non-natives, and are more commonly used as food and shelter by wildlife. Using native plants on your property is a best management practice for resource conservation. They can improve our water quality, reduce soil and wind erosion, clean the air, reduce energy costs, attract and support local wildlife, and beautify property.  
 
Be sure to check out the "Native Plant Online Store" and "Native Plant Resources" list in the drop-down menu on this page to learn more about our annual Native Plant Sale and access a great library of resources on native plants. We did the research, so you don't have to!

Note that our pre-ordering of native bareroot plants starts November 1st of each year. Subscribe to our Native Plant Sale email list to be notified when the storefront will open.

If you have additional questions or would like help with a native plant conservation project, request assistance in the form below - and note that since we are a free and voluntary agency, many utilize our services and we often have a waitlist for these services.

Our Native Plant Sale Video

Learn about our annual Native Bareroot Plant Sale from former Outreach Coordinator Shannon Bly.
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Our Pollinator Pal Pledge is a promotional program we do in conjunction with our annual Native Plant Sale. Congrats to the 2020-2021 winners!
Pledge to protect pollinators and learn more at the Pollinator Pal Pledge page.

Native Plant Resources

Click a Tab Below for More Resources:
native plant online store
The 2020-2021 Native Plant Sale is now complete. Check back in November 2021 for the start of our next pre-order!

How Does WICD's Native Plant Pre-Sale Ordering & ​Open Sale Process Work?

From November through December or January of each year, we accept pre-orders against our native plant inventory. Individuals who sign-up to be on our Native Plant Email List are the first to receive notice of when our online storefront is open and taking orders. We also promote the sale through community bulletins, in the newspaper, and other outreach avenues to help spread the word. We reserve this plant inventory from our Conservation District plant grower in Bow, WA (the Plant Materials Center) and other native plant sources, based on sales from previous years. The plants are harvested in late winter (while dormant) and delivered to us the last week in February.

During the pre-sale period, as an order is purchased, it is reserved from our inventory. If we run out of a species, we try to increase our order accordingly, but often local growers have pre-sold all of their stock. This is why we encourage our customers to order early – you’re more likely to get everything you want.  Plus, if we do run out early, we have a better chance of finding more inventory.  There is also always the chance that an unexpected weather event can cause a particular crop to fail. In that case, we do our best to track down replacements or offer suitable substitutes.

Our pre-order typically ends between end of December or January each year, and we spend February finalizing orders, confirming our inventory, and preparing for the arrival of our plants. In a whirlwind of activity over the course of 2-3 days just before the pickup date, our intrepid volunteers help us bundle the plants into the pre-orders for pickup. There is the possibility that unsold inventory will be available for sale on the Saturday pickup date. So, support your local conservation district, and place your plant order early. Go native plants!

Did you miss this year's Native Plant Sale? Check out other Conservation District Plant Sales.
Many of Washington State's Conservation Districts host their own Native Plant Sales, and each sale timeframe, structure, and plant offerings are unique to each District. In case you missed our sale this year, we encourage you to check the links below and see if one of our neighboring Conservation Districts is still accepting plant orders for their Native Plant Sale. Whidbey Island also has an abundant amount of local nurseries that often will special order native plants at customer requests. A quick online search of "Whidbey Island Nurseries" or a look in the Nurseries section of the phone book will reveal many businesses that you can call and ask about their current native plant selection to help meet your native plant needs.
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DID YOU PURCHASE MADRONES AT OUR PLANT SALE IN THE PAST?
HERE ARE SOME PLANTING AND CARE TIPS:
If you are planting one of these beauties in your garden, you must provide a well-drained spot to prevent root rot! Superb as a single tree or in drifts, Madrones do best in a south or west exposure, well drained. Do not over-water or fertilize.  Salal (Gaultheria shallon) does nicely below Madrone.  Mainly disease resistant, the Madrone is sometimes afflicted with root rot, fungi or soot cankers. Although it prefers some sun, it seems not to mind some partial shade.
   Poor, even rocky soil is fine, especially a bit on the acid side. Stake your young tree with plastic ties to give it a little extra support until it's well rooted. Some leaves will die in January - February but most will remain and soon new buds appear! As with all plants, keep your Madrone well groomed. Remove any sick leaves or branches with sanitized cutters. As particular as it can be to establish, once it settles down to grow it will withstand high temperatures and drought to wet freezing conditions. Besides visual impact, this tree will add more value to your property than any other native.
native plant resources
Native plants provide a landowner with countless possibilities for infusing conservation into their backyards. Whether you have a wetland, a shoreline, a forest, or a lot in town, you'll want to browse and click on the publications listed below.

Getting Started with PNW Native Plants
Step-by-Step Guides for Native Plants
Planting "How-To"
Irrigation & Watering
Mulching Tips
Alternative Pest Management
Microclimates
Native Plant Propagation ​
Native Plant Salvage
Pollinators
Birds & Wildlife
Soil Stabilization & Erosion Control
(see also our Water Management page)
Rain Gardens
(see also our Water Management page)
Wet Sites, Wetlands & Riparian Areas
(see also our ​Water Management page)
Fire-Resistant 
(see also our Firewise page)
Drought Tolerant 
Washington Glacial Outwash Prairies
Shorelines & Bluffs
(see also our Water Management page)
Septic Drainfield Landscaping ​
​Screens & Hedges
​​Lawn Alternatives
interested in volunteering?
In addition to our need each year for 60 volunteers to help pack and prepare plant orders for our Annual Native Bareroot Plant Sale, Whidbey Island Conservation District staff can also work with you to find the right project fit based on our current needs and your skill set. With such a modest sized staff, we are always in need of extra help at the office and often have some fun and interesting projects we could use volunteer assistance on. Please give us a call at (888) 678-4922 or fill out the form here to let us know you're interested in talking about "Volunteering" projects that fit your skill set and interests and we'll get back in touch with you. Better yet, subscribe to our Volunteer Email List by clicking here and you'll be one of the first to receive notice when we do an all-call for volunteers in January for Plant Sale.

Note: If you have been a volunteer with WICD in the past and receive notice from us via email about volunteer opportunities, then there is no need to re-fill out the form, as we have you in our system and will notify you when opportunities for volunteering are available. Thank you!

Ready to get started?

What to Expect When Requesting Assistance from the Whidbey Island Conservation District
  • Our services are free and voluntary, so lots of folks love to work with us, and we look forward to working with you! 
  • We have 2 staff who assist with satisfying client requests
  • We assist requests in the order that they are received
  • Please allow for 2 weeks for an initial reply
  • General info requests take approximately 1 month to respond to
  • New site visit requests to properties are on a 6-month waitlist currently
  • Farm, animal, and waste management plans are on a 1-year waitlist currently
  • Here is a list of directories and/or organizations which may be able to respond to your request sooner. We can not recommend private sector professionals as a government entity, so have included directories housed by other entities that are populated by the professionals themselves:​
Next Monthly Board Meeting:
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
9am - Noon

Please contact us if you'd like to attend and we will send you the remote meeting information.

Board Monthly Meeting Details:
  • Board meetings are open to the public.
  • Learn more about our board supervisors here.
  • See this year's list of upcoming and past board meeting dates - click here to access.
  • Past meeting minutes & agendas can be found here.​
Connect with Us
Office Hours:
COVID-19 Response: Our office is currently closed to visitors, and our staff is working remotely. Please contact us through our
request form​ or the information below.
(mailing) PO Box 490
(office location) 1 NE 4th Street
Coupeville, WA 98239
360-678-4708
(email) wicd[at]whidbeycd.org
What to Expect When Requesting Assistance from the Whidbey Island Conservation District
  • Our services are free and voluntary, so lots of folks love to work with us, and we look forward to working with you! 
  • We have 2 staff who assist with satisfying client requests
  • We assist requests in the order that they are received
  • Please allow for 2 weeks for an initial reply
  • General info requests take approximately 1 month to respond to
  • New site visit requests to properties are on a 6-month waitlist currently
  • Farm, animal, and waste management plans are on a 1-year waitlist currently
  • Here is a list of directories and/or organizations which may be able to respond to your request sooner. We can not recommend private sector professionals as a government entity, so have included directories housed by other entities that are populated by the professionals themselves:​
  •